Printing mechanism for alpha golf ball marker



A 1932- J. E. MCGINNESS 1,875,085

PRINTING MECHANISM FOR A GOLF BALL MARKER Original Filed Aug. 27, 1930 Patented Aug. 30, 1932 PATENT OFFICE Jos rH E.1vrceINNEss, or rrrmsnnnen, PENNSYLVANIA PRINTING MECHANISM FOR A GOLF BALL MARKER Original application filed August 27, 1930, Serial No. 478,042. Divided and this application filed May 13,

nection with the following description andv 12 illustration of the complete machine.

Generally stated, the device comprises a supporting cradle or frame having a pivotally mounted ball-engaging and pressure-exerting arm, with a printing or stamping de- 39 vice and inking means thereforpivotally and movably connected with the holding cradle or frame for application of the printing type to the surface of the ball, as shall be more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawing, showing one preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a general plan view of the device in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a view of the marker in side ele- Q vation, showing a ball in position for marking Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line III-{H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing I? the lever-actuated movement of the ball across the face of the printing device;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the printing device;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line if. VI-VI of Fig. 5, showing the eccentric mounting for the type plate; I

Fig. 7 is a similar View on the line VIIVII of Fig. 6, with the casing and type removed.

The machine as a whole consists of a sup porting frame or cradle in connection with a ball holder in operative relation to a marker having printing type or the like, an upper pivotally mounted movable ball holder being pivotally mounted with and above the cradle Serial No. 537,042.

for retaining and pressing a ball in contact with the type, and a lower arm pivotally connected with the cradle frame and the ball holder for control of the marker.

Referring to the drawing, I use three pivotally connected members A, B and C, each being preferably divided or bifurcated, composed of a pair of side arms 2, 3 and 4 respectively, pivotally connected at their terminals by a common cross pin 5.

Member A is of generally arcuate form, the side members 2 conforming generally to the curvature of the ball D to be marked, and provided at their inner and outer portions with contacting spools 6, having oppositely located coni-form ball contacting wheels 7.

Ball holding member A. is provided with a cross pin 8 at its outer end upon which the outermost spool 6 is rotatably mounted between the arms, beyond which extends the thumb terminal at having the loop members 9 and 10, for engagement by the thumb of the user.

Member B, composed of the double or bifurcated sides 3, extends at each side beyond its pivotal connection 5 and terminates in an oval-shaped grip member 7) having a loop rim 11 of sufficient size and arrangement to admit of the insertion of two fingers of the hand of the operator, and in adjacent relation to the thumb terminal a.

The marker containing the type against which the ball D makes contact, consists of a rectangular casing or box E within a surrounding frame 12, having a longitudinal groove 13 at each side, adjacent its top. Inwardly extending lugs or pins 14 of side arms a 3 engage the grooves 13, with an outer limiting wall 15, permitting relative movement of the ball gripping members A and B with relation to the marker E, as controlled by the lugs 14 and the holding arm or frame of the marker.

The lower member C is pivotally connected by outwardly extending pins or lugs 16 of the marker engaging lugs 17 of the side arms 4, and is provided with a terminal grasping extension 18, for engagement by the fingers of the other hand of the operator.

. As thus mounted, when members A and B I are in closed position, with relation to member G, as in Fig. 2, the marker is located one end of the printing type.

inwardly, with theball D in position against As members A and B are thrust upwardly and outwardly beyondmember C, as in l,'the marker is retained by pins 16, being guided by lugsl l engaging the grooves 13 of 'marker'E which of the marker. I

assumes varying angles while maintaining printing contact with the surface of the ball, during rotation of thelatterjover the type.

The; marker; or printer E downwardly extending ends 19 of the upper frame portion 12, over the side 'andbottom edges of which engage the ends of the U-shaped sheet metal cover 20 of box form. its upper side edges have interlocking connection, by its resilient sides, with the inwardly extending lugs 21 ofi themain upper-frameportion 12.

Within the marker is theinking pad 22 con-' v tained within a sheet metal holder and pressed upwardly from the bottom of casing 20-bya leaf spring 2 1, as in Fig.- 5. Such within a longitudinal rectangular holder 26 inking pad is of usual construction, having a covering against which the type may. be

wiped for inking at each'operation, or when ever desired; 7 i

' The several printing type 25fare contained of boX form,rpivotally mounted at each end of the marker E by means of a turning stem v27 and; a set screw 28' 'atopposite ends of the Set'sorew 28 is mounted inthe'end wall of casing26 and bears directly against theaterminal-type or againsta'fillerslug. 29, dependsupporting casing.

ent upon the length of the name to be printed, while the turning stem 27 is fixedly mounted inythe-other end wall'ofcasing 26,"as by a Stem 27 is provided terminal knurled wheel 31, whereby the entire casing.

26jand the row of type therein may be rotated to bring the type face in contact with the ink ing pad and then upwardly into printing position. A cover plate 32 is loosely mountedover the type holder 26, extending by ends 33 downwardly within each end 19 of the main outer casing and'havingiadjusting con-.

' s nection with the eccentric 34, Such eccentric fitswwithin a surrounding openingthrough ends'33 and extends from'each end ofcasing to normal position, just be'low the'face *of the type, by eccentric 34. I

, Ordinarily, in normal positionpthe type project slightly beyond the surface of" cover plate 32 for action against the ball surface,-

and upon one complete rotation of stem 27 will be wiped across the face of'the inking pad 22 for fresh marking, as often as is' necessary; During such rotation, the face of slotted plate 32sis moved outwardly and then inwardly by controlling action of the eccentrics.

The spring-pressedinkingipad also acts to'h positivelyhold the typeholder'26 in printingposition by bearingagainst its flatbot,

tom, as in Fig.3. V

, he, u ctio tpla e32i tqsrmvideacdn-z.-

tact Surface for the'ball just slightly belowv the face of the type, so that as the ball slides towards the type it will ride on to the first one without abrupt: or sudden'engagement; Thereupon, engagement: of the ball by the" type effects positive rotation of theiballn Otherwise, the printing maybe smeared or the ball may be damagedbythe type; This feature is-of specialuadvantage especially with a shortname or merely two orathree initial type at the middle or'either .end of the holder. 5

As thus constructed,

- The hen member 1A is Y j elevated, ball D'm'ay he then placed between thespools 6'6 wwi-thflits surfaceresting against one endportion of the. marker, as in: i -,;Fi 2. if i' 1 grasped by the fingers and thurhbofthe op;-';

erator, sufficient pressure maybe exerted'to V106 *versa, by closingileverage action of members .A and B, due to the slot and lug- 1cngagement"13 -14.-L :Member" B is thus pressed toward member A, with iresulting reaction of the type against'theball: I

Upon thrustingmembers A'andB away.

from member C, as in-Fig. '4,"the mar-kerE is retained by-lugs 1'6 ofmembers A andB acting as a carrier for the ball,,whereby itpress the. ball D-firmly against the type, and 7 is rolled acrossthe surface-of'thetype, the i ball rotatingfover the typetocomplete the marking operation. Thereupon, member-A1 is thrown upwardly and the ball may be re moved. I Ll j f I The eonstruction and operationof thedevice will be readily understood and appreci ated' by all thosejfamiliar withgolf ball markers; It is comparatively simple in construction, light in weight, composed of :few

parts,- and is continuously leflic'ientin opera s ti'on. By removing the set screw 28 the-type other type-replaced, with re-tightening' by i readily mO Ved for substitution by ithidrawing the cover, plate if naessaryii the set screw, whilethe inking pa d may be I its Thedevice is very compact andit be a 1 carried in the pocket and' 'used formarking short s ace-Dram, i 1

a large number of ballsiin'a comparatively It maybe variously changed in the shape .s v s terminalsa and Z) ofthe device being may be readily removedfromj-holder 26 and:

or design of its several parts by the skilled mechanic, or otherwise modified to adapt it to varying conditions of use, but all such changes are to be understood as within the scoIpe of the following claims.

claim:

1. Printing mechanism for a golf ball marker as described consisting of a rectangular casing provided with an inking pad, a type holder having a row of type, means providing for pivoting rotation of the type holder against the pad, and a slotted plate providing type clearance movably mounted on and actuated by the type holder.

2. Printing mechanism for a golf ball marker as described consisting of a rectangular casing provided with an inkng pad, a type holder having a row of type, means providing for pivoting rotation of the type holder against the pad, a slotted plate providing type clearance mounted on the type holder, and means on the type holder engaging the slotted plate providing outward and inward movement of the plate during rotation of the type holder.

3. Printing mechanism for a golf ball marker as described consisting of a rectangular casing provided with a resiliently mounted inking pad, a rotatable type holder having end walls provided with annular projections, a pivoting set screw extending eccentrically through one of said projections and ournalled in one of the end walls of the casing, a rotating stem at the oppositeend of the type holder extending eccentrically through the other annular projectionand journalled in the other end wall of the easing, and a slotted covering plate having inwardly extending end portions j ournalled on said annular projections.

4. Printing mechanism for a golf ball marker as described consisting of a rectangular casing provided with a removable bottom, an inking pad within the casing and a spring therefor between the pad and said bottom, an open top type holder having end walls provided with annular projections, pivoting extensions for the end walls of the type holder extending eccentrically through said annular projections and journalled in the end walls of the casing, and a slotted covering plate for the casing and the type holder having inwardly extending end portions journalled on said annular projections whereby the covering plate is moved outwardly for clearance of the type as they are rotated with the holder and then moved inwardly beyond the type terminals in printing position thereof.

n testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOSEPH E. MCGINNESS. 

